Zinnias - Why You Should Have Zinnias in Your Garden

Let's chat about a fun, gorgeous, easy to grow flower that if you don't have in your garden or gardens plans, you should! Zinnias have always been a favorite of many gardeners!  It's at the top of the list for me! Their variety assortment is gorgeous and fun; they are easy to grow, seeds are inexpensive, but also easy to collect, save and share, and they will give you loads of bouquets from late spring/early summer until the first frost of fall.

So, what makes this little seed have such a powerful punch? The list is endless. As mentioned above, I think two key elements, if I had to narrow down the long list, would be they are SO easy to grow and they produce a bountiful harvest week after week from the first bloom until that first frost. 

I'm going to list a few things that make this a tried and true flower that almost all commercial and home gardeners love or will come to love...

• They LOVE hot weather. Living in the south, this is definitely not always the case with every pretty plant. But, the hotter the summer gets, the more they seem to shine! 

• They require very little maintenance. They don't have a lot of problems, but if you have Japanese beetles in your area, they love them as much as the gardeners do. So, if you tend to have these critters in your area, plan on about a month-long attack at which time you can cut back their destruction after they've left, and in a couple of weeks, your plants tend to come back for the remainder of summer. Also, as the nights tend to cool, you can sometimes get powdery mildew if your plants are planted close together, not allowing a lot of airflow. There are remedies for this, though. 

• If you want a bounty of fresh flowers that continue to have large blooms - consider successive planting. About every two weeks, plant another small crop in your space, and you will continually yield optimal flowers.   

• The pollinators LOVE them. If you have zinnias, you will see countless bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. It's a win-win. 

• Do you want a fresh bouquet or bouquets all summer long? Plant zinnias, as many as your space, will allow. That will give you the benefit of sharing with someone else.  

• They are FAST growing. That is a crucial component as to why successive planting is such a benefit to this particular plant. 

Yoderbilt Greenhouses - The Story of Us

It's been such a humbling experience that so many of you have discovered our family business and taken steps to improve your gardening ability and experience. Every day we have the opportunity to speak with so many of you - it's a joy for us!  

After leaving corporate America in 2007 for a slower-paced life, we settled on a farm in Arkansas.  In 2011, we began looking for a greenhouse to be more self-sufficient.  It was something that we wanted to enjoy with Olivia.  However, we found ourselves extremely disappointed in the available greenhouses. They all came in kits, lacked quality, and were very unattractive, no matter how high the price was. That spring, we set out to build a greenhouse under a shade tree in our front yard.  We had no idea that ALL of the work that went on under that shade tree would become a thriving industry leader for greenhouses.  We are currently serving a seven-state area with plans for expansion.  For that, we thank our loyal Yoderbilt customers.  

I got tickled and Oliva gave up on us. ha! 

Today, Yoderbilt strives to build the greenhouse that their competitors don't - a fully-assembled, quality-constructed, made-to-order greenhouse that will stand the test of time. We hope our story inspires you to write one of our own, and that we can be a part of it.

Beginning a Garden - The In-Ground Garden Bed

And, last, but not least in our gardening series, the in-ground garden bed.   This is the most traditional of our garden bed options.  There are many advantages as well as a few disadvantages to this option.  

For many, this is the only type of garden bed that they will consider as it has been the tried and true garden choice for their family for generations.  If you have the right equipment and enough space, it just makes sense.   Some of the tools you will need to make this a feasible option are a tiller, a tractor with a tiller, a sod cutter, or a sharp spade.   

Some advantages include using the existing soil.  It is always advantageous to take a soil sample in for testing and amend the soil as recommended.   Another advantage is that it is the most economical if you have the equipment to set up the garden plot, as mentioned above.  It can be less permanent,  requires less watering, and is typically much easier to irrigate.  

As with the other options included in this series, there are factors that must be considered when implementing this option.   You must choose the right location.  This should consist of a somewhat level site that will provide good drainage and be 6-8 hours per day in the sun. It is preferable to have it near your house for the sake of convenience.   

This type of bed may require more weeding and the addition of nutrients throughout the garden season.  But, when maintained regularly, these obstacles can be kept in check. 

This is a great way to grow a garden and makes the most sense for so many!  

Beginning a Garden - Container Gardening

This is one of our favorites, and we've used it for years! Container gardening is often the unsung hero of gardening.  It seems like the trend has been moving toward raised beds, and there will always be the traditional in-ground garden.  But, IF you haven't tried container gardening - YOU SHOULD! 

There are so many benefits, and honestly, only a few things could be viewed as a bit difficult; but, not something that should cause you to shy away from it. There are so many vegetables and fruits that thrive in pots and smaller garden spaces - a container allows for quick and easy garden set-ups that can yield an abundant harvest with minimal effort.  

There are countless reasons you should try this type of gardening or even add it to your gardening plan. Some of those include: if you are limited on outdoor space, the convenience of having fresh vegetables and fruit right outside your back door (or, front, in some cases), there is no need to prepare a garden bed or build raised containers, easy access for harvesting and watering, can be moved around and relocated, on the less expensive side of other options and probably my favorite......NO WEEDING. 

Here are a few things to consider:  

• Choose a location that, like other garden options, will receive at least 6-8 hours of full sun daily.
• Collect your containers. You can use some you have on hand, purchase to match the aesthetics of your patio or porch, collect them from friends or family or collect containers that may not necessarily be intended as a garden pot, but would work just as well. 
• Make sure your containers have holes in the bottom to allow for proper drainage. If they don't - drill some. It's an easy fix, but is a critical factor.  
• Use an excellent purchased potting soil or mix one of your own. It needs to be a lightweight, high-quality mix.  
• Containers require watering more often. Check the soil moisture every day as they usually require at least daily watering; however, on days with higher temperatures, they may need watering in the morning and evening to keep the plants well hydrated. 
• Fertilization can assist in your harvest in a big way. Often a soil-released fertilizer works perfectly.    
• Mulch can be added to aid in moisture retention.  
• Select vegetables and fruits that thrive in a smaller space such as strawberries, peppers, tomatoes, lettuce, swiss chard, kale, herbs that thrive but aren't too big such as melons.  The list goes on! 

Whether you term it an urban garden, a patio, or a porch garden - if you are limited by space, this is a perfect alternative to try! It is well worth the effort and is an enjoyable space to visit daily. 

Beginning a Garden - Raised Beds

You are ready to start your garden - but which bed option do you go with?  There are many options!  This series will focus on raised beds,  container gardening, and the traditional in-ground garden bed.   

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We are going to start with the ever-growing popular, raised bed garden;  and why this should be an option to consider.  To a traditional gardener, a few years back, this seemed like a compromise to conventional gardening - almost like you were cheating in the way of life of gardening.  However, since it is becoming more and more popular, even the most traditional gardeners now agree, this is definitely a garden to consider.  And, so many are diving in wholeheartedly after they experience just a season with raised beds.  

There are so many reasons why raised beds have gained such popularity.  Some of the main reasons are that you can pretty much make them fit any space, place them anywhere, use a multitude of materials, gain better control, and have a fruitful bounty.   There aren't too many negatives to this garden plan if done correctly. 

Let's explore a countless list of reasons as to why this option should be considered.  First,  the most crucial aspect of your garden is often determined to be the soil.   If you live in a place as I do, that soil in your backyard has a very high concentration of clay.  That is clearly not the most nutrient-rich source in which to plant in. Every area of the country has a different soil base that often has to be worked at in a hard way to be overcome to garden effectively and efficiently in it.   But, with a raised bed, you are in complete control by choosing each aspect you add to your beds, and you can amend as needed.  You can achieve optional soil quality with somewhat minimal effort. With soil that is of high quality, the starting point of your garden will put you in a position to have a successful gardening experience and produce an abundant crop. Of course, other elemental issues come into play in a critical manner, such as sun, water, and drainage.  But, your soil is of utmost importance and is the area that most avid gardeners will invest the most in. 

Then there is the simple but important aspect of the look of the garden or the aesthetics.   You can spend your days looking at Pinterest and planning for that dreamy garden.  But you CAN make it happen!   A huge positive is that you can create that beautiful small space that produces a prolific harvest.  It is so much easier to maintain than acres and acres of traditional garden space.   They are often on the more compact size, but not always.  It's entirely up to you, your imagination, your budget, and your available space. The area can be as large as your imagination and budget.  But, a small scale raised bed garden can be every bit as swoon-worthy while doing what gardens do best, grow your food and florals in abundance.  

Easier maintenance is a definite bonus to raised bed gardening.  The elevated height makes access much easier for those who may have difficulty bending, stooping, and kneeling.   Due to how they are built, you can often sit on the edges, and as long as the raised bed is not over 4 feet across, most can reach easily into the center from both directions.   The recommended height is usually at least 10 inches, but it can be as little as 6 inches.  However, you can keep adding to the height until you are content with it.  Just keep in mind, additional height will often mean more garden soil needed to fill.  

You can typically begin planting earlier in a raised bed due to the fact the soil warms quicker than a traditional garden when springtime arrives.  It allows you to garden earlier, but you can often garden later in the season as it's easier to cover crops when the cooler temperatures start arriving. 

Another positive is that you don't have to own heavy equipment such as a tiller to use all season.  When raised beds are correctly installed, weeding is so much easier and is often done by hand or a simple tool like a hula hoe.   As mentioned above, the overall maintenance is a definite benefit.  But, only needing a few simple tools makes it easier, lends for better storage, and is much more cost-effective. 

The list could go on and on as to why raised bed a regaining so much popularity. But, the primary reasons are outlined above.  You can always start with one and add to them as you want and as space allows.  It's a great way to jump into the garden or switch your typical garden plan with one as the positives outweigh other options.   It's something to consider no matter where you are on the experience spectrum as a gardener. 

Beginning a Garden - Choosing the Location

Welcome to your very first step in planning for your garden, choosing the location! This is an exciting place to be, the beginning of your adventure into gardening! For some, this task is relatively easy; for others, it can be a challenge in simply committing to a particular spot.  Most of the questions we see are, Is it sunny enough?  Do I have good soil?  And, most frequently, How do I even start?  Although several factors need to be considered, we are going to try to keep this as simple as possible and provide some key elements of consideration.

First, pick a location that has an abundance of sunshine.   Many plants, particularly vegetables, need plenty of sun throughout the day.  The overall recommendation is an average of at least 8 hours of full sun.   Keep in mind that the sun sets in varying locations throughout the year, and once trees leaf out, more shade may fall upon your garden plot.  Keep a watchful eye on different areas that you have in mind in helping to decide the optimal location.  Also, watch your shadows, mainly if it is close to your house or a tree line as the sun can be blocked as the sun is in different positions throughout the day. 

Next, and although this can be critical, so many don't realize the importance of this factor.  But, it's the factor of convenience.  If your location is not within sight - out of sight can become out of mind.  When your garden is easy to get to and see, you will naturally spend more time tending to it lending to its success. 

Third, soil quality is imperative.  Healthy soil = healthy plants.  To grow an abundance of nutritious vegetables, you want the perfect combination of fertile soil that drains well.   One thing that is always recommended is obtaining a soil test by your local extension office.  They are often free or offered at a relatively low cost.  This will assess the soil and provide recommendations on amendments if needed. 

Then you must consider a water source.  There are several ways to help keep your plants thriving and hydrated, including mulch - however, between rain showers, you will more often than not need to spend time watering.  Having a water source nearby is imperative.   The more convenient, the easier it will be to utilize. 

These are some key but very simple steps.  Next up in our series will be what type of garden bed will work best for you.  We will be exploring traditional in-ground beds, raised garden beds, and even containers.  

Beginning a Garden

For years, we have worked with numerous customers during the purchase process of our greenhouses; all had a similar goal in mind, but all were coming from different levels of gardening experience.  Some simply wanted a greenhouse to hobby garden and over-winter their plants.  Some utilized it for their business by growing seedlings to sell, or seedlings to plant either by way of vegetables or cut-flower farms. And, some found themselves wanting one to be more self-reliant, some with and some without gardening experience. 

We have had an influx of calls and questions from those wanting to start a garden over the past few weeks - so, we are launching a series here on the blog for beginning gardeners.  Today, we will touch a bit on the history of the garden and why we see such a resurgence.   Over the month, we will cover all things gardening - from selecting your location, soil, seedlings, and everything in between, ending with a garden harvest.  But, then, expanding your garden inside your greenhouse to provide fresh vegetables throughout the winter months.

A lot has changed in our world recently and at a fast pace.  We have witnessed an explosion in the gardening world.  "Our country and the entire world are being challenged in a way we have never experienced.  In response, many Americans are taking appropriate measures by cocooning at home and are striving to be more self-reliant for as much of their own fresh food as possible," stated Tom Johns, President of Territorial Seed Company.  

We personally grow our seedlings in our greenhouse and then harden them before planting into our garden.  Now more than ever,  people are eager to grow their own food.  And, often, this will be the first time they've endeavored to do so.   

Whether it's out of a need or want to grow their own food, or simply a new hobby to busy themselves while being at home more, the gardening world is active. Even before the recent events with COVID19, we have witnessed this old idea and practice resurfacing.  Schools have been implementing gardening classes as almost a lost art and essential life skill.  States and businesses are recognizing a need for this and are providing grants. Families are learning that a farm or huge garden plot isn't needed;  food in abundance can be grown in containers scatted about a patio.  There are so many ways to make this dream a reality. 

Currently, there is a massive pull toward family gardening.  Seed suppliers are reporting record-breaking sales. Online seed and garden suppliers have had to shut down online ordering systems to replenish and keep up with the demand.  The reports are numerous; people want to start a garden as soon as possible.   

While life has slowed a bit for some of us, gardening is proving to be relaxing and recreational, but also therapeutic. It's allowing such a positive experience for families to work together when so many are home together now.  And, the reward can be bountiful in more ways than one. From a historical perspective, gardens have been an essential foundation for our country during trying times. From the Liberty Gardens of WWI and the Victory Gardens of WWII - gardens have been something Americans have turned to time and time again.  "As the war ended, and gardens took over American backyards, those earnest posters of cheery home gardeners and fierce-looking vegetables became a relic of wartime scarcity - until a few weeks ago." said the New York Times the first week of spring.  

According to Tamasin Pemberton, from Perennial Harvest, she admitted that enthusiasm had been a little lackluster until now.  "The pandemic seemed to have prompted an overdue revival," she said, and a chance to share her passion with an audience who were really listening.  It's a lot of people in their 30s and 40s with young families.  People who are really keen but haven't got any experience whatsoever.  It has touched on people's fears about food security - they've seen how bare the shelves are."  

For those raised on farms or with parents or grandparents who were avid gardeners, growing a garden may be in your DNA.  But, with our recent influx of questions from beginning gardeners, we wanted to give you a basic plan to start your garden for the first time in this series.  Our next post will cover selecting your location and getting it ready.   We hope you will return and follow this series!